The Tomio Koyama Gallery is pleased to present works by Yuko Someya, which will be on display from 2 June to 23 June 2007.

Born in Chiba in 1980, she graduated from Tokyo Zokei University in 2004 and completed her Masters at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. She received awards for her work at Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts, Tokyo in 2004. She participated in a group exhibition at O Gallery in 2006 and held her first solo exhibition at Gallery Kaku in 2006. Her work was also included in a 2007 group exhibition at the Highpoint Center for Printmaking in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is her first exhibition at the Tomio Koyama Gallery.

Someya applies washi paper to panels and creates outlined worlds using slender strokes so the paper’s gentle qualities remain present. Many of her motifs feature flowers and birds, plants, and animals; however, the details, such as a flower’s petals or bird feathers are intricately drawn. “I move my pencil as if I was spelling a word,” Someya says of her works; she starts off by using a pencil to create light contour lines. Her detailed sketches are not connected with miniature paintings, however, entire works possesses an extremely ethereal impression, as the balance between blank and filled spaces is crafted using her specialized method of using ink ? not only does she use watercolor pigments, but she uses lithograph ink as well ? to achieve the desired coloring and sense of transparency.

Her mind always seems to be filled with stories, as was seen in her 2005 work, Hanakotori, which featured six tableau paintings that were joined to form a scene over five meters long. It depicted flowers on a tree trunk, birds and a spider web, a firebird-like bird, and other fantastic animals like an emaki scroll.

The large piece featured in this exhibition is a flying bird with its large wings spread wide. The multi-colored wings contain plant-like cells and trailing coral-like spray. With wings outstretched, the descending figure resembles a dignified sky god.

Yuko Someya (biography and works)

Tomio Koyama Gallery (web-site)
Press: Tomoko Omori, TEL +81-03-3642-4090, email: omori@tomiokoyamagallery.com